What Does A Director of Photography Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Develop the Film’s Visual Style

The DP will make decisions about the visual aspects of the story being told by the film. They start by reading the screenplay and breaking down the emotions, characters, and subtext. They determine a specific plan for how to convey these elements through the lighting and cameras.

This process involves creating a visual world where the characters exist and communicating this world to the camera and lighting crews. In addition, the DP needs to work closely with the Director to make sure that the visual concept fits in with his or her ideas. The DP starts with the subtext to engage the audience and create the emotional reaction the Director is looking for.

Determine Lighting Requirements

Another responsibility is determining the lighting requirements for the film. The lighting plays a role in communicating the mood of the film, and it is critical to the visual concept. It is necessary to determine the key light, which is the primary light source. The fill light will illuminate the shadows, and the backlight hits a subject from behind. These three elements make up the three-point lighting setup.

The DP needs to consider all aspects of how the light affects the message, including the natural light that is available, as well as side lighting, bounce light (light that is reflected), whether the light is going to be soft or hard, and practical light, which is anything from a light source such as a table lamp. The DP decides on all of these elements and makes a plan for the entire production.

Determine Camera Requirements

When it comes to the camera requirements, the DP needs to determine how to use the cameras to convey the visual concept. This strategy can be broken down into a number of categories. The most critical are the format, composition and movement of the camera, but there are others they can add, including the lenses used, the focus, filters, and so on.

The format is the medium that is best for the film, including film or digital. The DP needs to determine the details of how to shoot the film. The composition includes the aspect ratio and how it will convey the subtexts of the film. They choose the aspect ratio and the angles for various shots. The movements include how to move the camera and follow the characters throughout the production.

Supervise Camera Crew and Direct Camera Movement

The DP will take the plan that he or she designs for the production and supervise the camera crew throughout the production. The DP makes all of the executive calls on lighting and framing, and he or she will direct the camera operator, the 1st assistant camera, and the 2nd assistant camera as to how they should shoot the film.

The DP needs to be able to communicate the visual concept to the lighting crew so that they understand how to create the film. They direct the camera and light operators throughout each shot to ensure that it stays true to the Director’s vision for the film.

Work with Electricians to Ensure Adequate Power

The film set has two types of electricians who make it possible to power all of the equipment that will be used on the set. The Rigging electrician creates all of the necessary power supplies for the On-Set Electric Team so that they can start laying the cables.

Once the DP has determined the camera and lighting requirements for the film, this information needs to be communicated to the electric teams to ensure that there is enough power. This is another critical part of the process for making a film, and it shows the importance of creating a scene-by-scene plan for the camera operation and lighting.

Edit Visual Elements in Post Production

During the post production phase, the film will be edited by editors, and the DP’s job is mostly finished. However, the DP will supervise the editing process to make sure that the film retains the visual concept that was agreed upon by the Director and the DP.

Step 1: Get Some Experience

If you want to become a Director of Photography, you need to start by getting some experience on a set. You can start in any capacity. So much of how far you get depends on getting your foot in the door. You can start as a 2nd assistant camera operator, and gain experience while you are learning.

Step 2: Get a Degree in Cinematography

Many jobs will require that the Director of Photography have a degree in a relevant form of cinematography. You can get a Bachelor’s degree or attend a technical school.

Step 3: Work Your Way Through the Ranks

Most of the time, you need to get on the set. Once you have some experience as a 2nd Assistant Camera operator, you can work your way up to 1st Assistant Camera and then Camera Operator. You should be making valuable contacts during this process. When you are ready to move up to Director of Photography, you will know who you want working on your crew.